Lesson 1 – Family

Let's begin our study of collocations by learning some common expressions about the family. Your
parents and siblings (brothers and sisters) are your immediate family - and your extended family
includes all your relatives - uncles, cousins, great-aunts, etc.

You can use a family tree to diagram the relationships among your family members. A person who is
related to you by a long series of connections can be called a distant relative.

If you're lucky, you have a loving family or a close-knit family - these expressions refer to a family that
has good relationships, where everyone loves each other and helps each other. If you were raised in a
loving family, then you probably had a carefree childhood - that means you had nothing to worry about
when you were young.

On the other hand, a family in which the relationships are bad or unhealthy can be called a
dysfunctional family. If the children experience abuse, poverty, or problems with the law, we can say
they had a troubled childhood.

Perhaps the parents went through a bitter divorce - that means a separation in which there were
bad/angry feelings between the husband and wife. It's also possible to have a messy divorce, with a
prolonged legal battle involving lots of conflicts about the separation of the former couple's assets
(money and possessions). The decisions about the separation of assets are made in the divorce
settlement. A family in which there are divorces or separations is sometimes called a broken home.

Sometimes the mother and father fight over custody of the children - that refers to who has the primary
responsibility of caring for the kids. A judge can grant joint custody - that means the ex-husband and ex-wife
share the responsibility - or sole custody to only one parent. For example, a judge might award sole custody to
the mother, and the father has to pay child support - regular payments to help with expenses for the kids.

If it was a mutual divorce/separation - that means the ex-husband and ex-wife agreed to separate
without fighting - then they will probably stay on good terms with each other (meaning to have a polite
relationship without conflicts).

If a woman gets pregnant without being married or in a relationship, then she will become a single
mother. Some women in this situation choose to have an abortion, and others prefer to give the baby
up for adoption. The time when the baby is planned to arrive is called the due date - you can also say
the baby is due in mid-October, for example.

After the woman has the baby (or gives birth to the baby), the baby is given to the adoptive parents,
who will raise the child or bring up the child as if it was their own. Sometimes, when the adopted child
is older, he or she tries to find their birth mother (biological mother)
Circle the best word to complete each sentence:
1. A friend of mine gave / took / went birth to her son at home with the help of a nurse.
2. A number of the kids in my classroom come from broken / damaged / hurt homes.
3. After a hostile / cruel / bitter divorce from his wife of 20 years, the actor married a woman
young enough to be his daughter.
4. I see my excepted / expanded / extended family once a year, during our annual family
vacation.
5. I was raised in a very joyful / loving / tender family, in which everyone helped each other.
6. I was created / grown / raised by my grandparents after my parents passed away.
7. I'm on good friends / relations / terms with all my former boyfriends.
8. John had a carefree / careful / careless childhood, growing up with happily married parents
and three brothers.
9. Many women regret giving / having / taking an abortion years afterwards.
10. My aunt's going through a messy / sloppy / untidy divorce; she's paying a fortune in legal
fees.
11. My husband doesn't get along with a few of my family people / individuals / members.
12. Although my salary is low, I get child assistance / provision / support from my ex-
husband.
13. My sister got / had / made pregnant immediately after she got married.
14. My son is making a diagram of our family roots / tree / web for a school project.
15. My wife is pregnant with twins. They're come / due / here in February.
16. Sally was granted sole custody / guardian / keeping of the children from her first marriage.
17. Teenagers who had a distressed / troubled / worsened childhood often have behavior
problems in school.
18. The celebrity wrote a book about his debilitated / defective / dysfunctional family.
19. The divorce contract / reimbursement / settlement awarded the wife $500,000.
20. There are four people in my close / immediate / neighboring family.
21. They have three biological children and two adopted / adoptive / adopting children.
Lesson 2 - Relationships
When you move to a new city, it can be hard to make friends. You'll probably have a number of casual
acquaintances - people who you know on a basic level, but with whom you don't have a significant
relationship. Over time, some of these may become good friends or close friends - these collocations
refer to friends with whom you have an especially strong relationship.
Do you believe in love at first sight? That's when two people meet each other and immediately fall in
love - perhaps because they have strong chemistry - this expression describes strong compatibility or
connection between two possible romantic partners. Some people believe that their significant other
(their boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or wife) is their soul mate - this is a poetic expression that means
that two people are destined to be together.
It's possible for one person to have feelings for another person - this expression is an indirect way to
describe romantic feelings - but if the other person doesn't feel the same way, then the feeling is not
mutual. The other person might say "he's/she's just not my type" - meaning that they are interested in
people of a different type of personality/appearance. Ah, there's nothing sadder than unrequited love!
(Love that is not returned)
Some people marry their childhood sweetheart or high school/college sweetheart - this expression
refers to a boyfriend or girlfriend from your childhood, teenage, or college years. Other couples are
introduced by a mutual friend - one friend that the two people have in common. When the couple is
ready to make a commitment, the man proposes to the woman - he asks her to marry him. If the
marriage is good, then we say the couple is happily married.
Unfortunately, not all love stories have a happy ending. Sometimes a husband or wife has an affair -
they have sex with a different person. We can also say that they are cheating on their husband/wife.
The expression "have an affair" is typically used only for married couples, and the expression "cheating
on" can be used for married couples or for boyfriends/girlfriends.
Quiz
1. The process of creating friendships is called...
a) getting friends b) earning friends c) making friends
2. A "close friend" is someone...
a) who lives near you b) who is similar to you c)with whom you have a strong friendship
3. When you develop romantic feelings for another person, you're...
a) becoming passionate b) falling in love c) giving your heart
4. If only one of the two people has romantic feelings, we say the feeling is not...
a) mutual b) returned c) together
5. A polite way to say you're not attracted to someone is: "He/she's not my..."
a) kind b) style c) type
6. A man who marries a woman who he met when both were very young, has married his childhood...
a) darling b) lover c) sweetheart
7. When two people get married, they make a__________ to each other.
a) commitment b) compromise c) guarantee
8. Many men try to find a creative and romantic way to ________ to their girlfriends.
a) propose b) proposition c) purpose
9. A lot of marriages end when one member of the couple has an...
a)affair b) experience c) intimacy
10. If you catch your significant other in bed with another person, then he/she is _______ on you.
a) betraying b) cheating c) deceiving
LESSON 3: Eating
My mother radically changed her eating habits a few years ago. In the past, she ate a lot of junk food
(food that is not nutritious/healthy) and was overweight. Sometimes she would try to go on a diet (eat
less food and healthier food), but it would never last. But now she understands how unhealthy
processed foods are - they're full of food additives (chemicals added to food) that contribute to weight
gain and heart problems.
Nowadays, she eats a balanced diet including a lot of nourishing meals (meals that are healthy and
nutritious) that she prepares herself. She doesn't buy organic food because she thinks the prices are
outrageous, but she stocks up on fresh produce (fresh fruits and vegetables) so that she can grab an
apple or some veggies when she wants a quick snack (something small and fast to eat). She has also
learned to eat in moderation and watch her portion sizes (how much food you take).
I often stop by her house when I'm in the mood for a home-cooked meal. The other day she made a
hearty stew (a thick soup with lots of flavors and ingredients) that was full of beans and vegetables. My
brother, who has a healthy appetite (the capacity to eat a lot), had a second helping (a second portion)
- but I found the stew so filling that I could barely finish my bowl.
My mother recently told me that she'd like to try some international cuisine. I was surprised to hear
that, because a few years ago she had a bad experience after getting food poisoning (when you get sick
because of contaminated food) at a Japanese restaurant. So tomorrow I'm taking her to a Brazilian
steakhouse. I told her to eat light meals (small meals) during the day so that she doesn't spoil her
appetite for dinner ("spoiling your appetite" means eating food earlier, and then not being hungry for a
meal later).
cuisine / diet / fresh / helping / junk / moderation / nourishing / poisoning / processed / snack
1. During the summer, our kids eat a lot of____________________ food - popcorn, candy, ice cream, cookies,
etc.
2. _________________________ He got food after eating some seafood from a street vendor.
3. I buy _________________ produce at the farmer's market.
4. I drink in _________________ ; I don't like getting drunk.
5. I'm not a huge fan of Mexican _________________ . It's too spicy for me.
6. I've lost ten pounds so far while on this new__________________.
7. Spinach is one of the most _________________ vegetables - it's full of vitamins and minerals.
8. That lasagna is delicious; I think I'll have another _________________ .
9. The food at this restaurant is all natural - they don't use any type of__________________food.
LESSON 4: Work
If you’ve just graduated from college and you’ve never had a job, you can start your career by doing an
internship (a temporary, low-level job) to gain experience. Depending on the company, the internship
could lead to an opportunity to get an entry-level job (a job that doesn’t require much skill or
experience) at the same company.
Although you might be earning minimum wage (the minimum salary required by law), if you do
excellent work and are a good team player (you cooperate well with your co-workers) you could get a
promotion (get an increase in responsibility) or get a raise (get an increase in salary) – hopefully both!
Just don’t slack off, otherwise you’ll be fired/dismissed (lose your job).
It’s normal for there to be periods of time when you have a heavy workload (a lot of work) and need to
work overtime (work extra hours). But if you have a very demanding job (an intense job with lots of
responsibilities) and you’re stressed out all the time, then it might be time to quit your job (leave your
job voluntarily) and look for another one.
Now that you have experience, you’ll be able to get a job with a more competitive salary (salary that is
higher than average) and generous benefits (extra benefits like health insurance, discounts, a company
car, etc). If you can’t find a well-paid and rewarding job in your field, it might be time for a career
change.
The typical way of applying for a job is to read the job ads in the newspaper or online, then send your
resume to the company with a cover letter. The company will then interview the candidates it feels are
most qualified, based on the job description.
Sometimes job seekers (people looking for a job) need to take a menial job (job requiring a very low
level of skill) in order to earn a living (get enough money to survive) while they’re between jobs. But if
you’re persistent, a great job offer should come your way sooner or later – maybe even for your dream
job (a job that would be perfect for you)!
Complete the blanks in this conversation between two managers looking to hire a journalist:
description interview
applied
dismissed living
between
dream minimum
candidates
entry-level offer
competitive
generous overtime
demanding
internship rewarding
Melissa: Hi Terry, let's go over the list of people who have _____________ for the job.
Terry: Sure. There's Bob, who's fresh out of college and says this would be his "___________ job."
Melissa: Although I admire his enthusiasm, this isn't an _____________ job - we really need someone
with a bit of experience.
Terry: Here's a resume from Dana - she's a freelance writer who's looking for a more stable way to earn
a ____________. Unfortunately, she mentions in her cover letter that she's not willing to work
_____________ because she has two small kids at home.
Melissa: Hmm... this is a rather _____________ job and sometimes we do need to work late. Let's not
rule her out, though. Who else is in the running?
Terry: There's Steven, a veteran reporter who's currently ______________ jobs. He makes it clear in his
cover letter that he expects a ______________ salary and ______________ benefits.
Melissa: He might be worth it. Why did he leave his last job?
Terry: Um, well, I checked his references and it turns out he was _____________ for sexual harassment
of a co-worker.
Melissa: Oh... that's not ideal. Do we have any other __________________?
Terry: None who are particularly qualified - there's a marketing consultant looking for a ___________
change, and a few people who apparently didn't read the job _____________ and sent us generic
letters.
Melissa: Maybe we could __________ Dana the job, and if it's too much work for her to handle, we
could have Bob do an _______________ to help her out. We could only afford to pay him ____________
wage, but he might find the experience ______________.
Terry: OK – let’s ______________ both of them next week
LESSON 5: Health & Sickness
There are a number of lifestyle changes you can make to improve your overall health and increase your
life expectancy (how long you are expected to live) - you can quit smoking, reduce stress, eat a
balanced diet, get plenty of sleep, and exercise regularly. It's also important to get
vaccinations/immunizations to prevent diseases. No matter how healthy you are, it's still a good idea to
have health insurance - a program/plan to cover expenses in case of an accident or serious illness.

If you're in a car accident, you might suffer/sustain serious injuries. Of course, if you're wearing your
seatbelt, you're more likely to have only minor injuries. If you've broken/fractured a bone - for
example, your leg - the doctor will put your leg in a cast. If you have a cut, the doctor will give you
stitches. If you have a burn, the doctor will give you an ointment to prevent infection.

If you have a minor ailment like a headache, you can take some aspirin to relieve the pain (reduce the
effects of the pain). If you suffer from a chronic/recurring condition (a condition that continues for a long
time) like allergies, asthma, back pain, or depression, there are both over-the counter and prescription
medications that can help alleviate the symptoms (an over-the-counter medication is one that you can
buy without a doctor's prescription).

When someone has a minor respiratory infection, we say they have a cold. Don't get too close to that
person, because you could catch a cold, too! You can "catch" other types of contagious diseases as well -
such as sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs).

If someone is diagnosed with a more serious illness such as cancer or AIDS, they'll need more extensive
treatment. When a disease has progressed so far that it will be impossible to cure, then the patient is
said to be terminally ill - in other words, the person will definitely die of the disease soon.

1. Taking aspirin to a______________ the pain is one of the treatments that many people do.
2. You have to wear a mask when you keep in contact with patients with c________________diseases.
3. To c____________ healthcare expenses, patients must have medical insurance.
4. If you want to e____________ your life e____________, you have to quit smoking and drinking.
5. He became down after he had been d______________with cancer. He hopes that doctors can c____his
ailment, but in fact, he is t________________ill.
6.
Match the two halves of these sentences:
1. Adults who have diabetes need to make some
a) with multiple sclerosis.
lifestyle
b) vaccinations before traveling to a
2. After a series of exams, Diana was diagnosed
tropical country.
3. He suffers from chronic c) the pain and reduce swelling.
d) medications to treat his bipolar
4. He takes some very strong prescription
disorder.
e) insurance, so she had to pay for the
5. If you pull a muscle, ice can help relieve
surgery herself.
6. Japan has the highest life f) injuries - just some cuts and bruises.
g) ill and should be made as comfortable
7. My daughter has a bad
as possible.
8. My son needs to get some h) expectancy in the world, at 83 years.
9. She didn't have health i) diet and get lots of exercise.
j) cold, so she's staying home from school
10. The best way to lose weight is to eat a balanced
today.
k) changes, such as cutting down on
11. The patient in room 4 is terminally
sugar.
12. They walked away from the accident with l) back pain thanks to years of poor
minor posture.
Lesson 6: Computers
I'm teaching my grandmother how to use a computer. First I showed her how to start up and shut down
the computer. Then, I helped her get online or access the internet so that she can check her e-mail.
She
quickly learned how to write and send messages, reply to an e-mail and forward an e-mail (send a
complete e-mail that you received to a new person), but it was a little hard for her to remember how to
attach a file to an outgoing message.

We tried to log into her bank account online, but the bank's website was down (the website was not
functional, or was not online). There was a notice on the home page (the main page of the website) that
they were doing some scheduled maintenance on the system - so we'll try again tomorrow.
This afternoon, I'll teach her how to use a search engine. I think she'll really enjoy surfing/browsing
the web (exploring the internet) and using social media. If she needs to do something more advanced,
like burn a CD (put files from a computer onto a CD), then I can do that for her.

She's a little bit afraid of pressing the wrong key and accidentally deleting an important file, but I
told her that we can always recover the file from the recycling bin. I also explained that if the
computer freezes or locks up (stops moving/functioning), she can simply restart/reboot the
computer.

It's also a good idea for her to back up her files (make an extra copy of the information) so that she
doesn't lose her data if the computer crashes (the computer breaks) and can't be repaired. I installed a
program that periodically runs scans for viruses and spyware to ensure that her computer hasn't been
infected.
Quiz
1. After my computer was stolen, I was so glad I had backed up / locked up / started up
all my data on an external hard drive.
2. Could I use your computer for a minute? I'd like to check / look / verify my e-mail.
3. Do I need to attach / implement / install a special program to be able to view this
video?
4. I burned / locked / scanned you a CD of some of my favorite music.
5. I can't check the event schedule online because the conference website seems to be
off / down/ frozen.
6. If you want more space on your hard drive, you should crash / delete / shut down old
files that you no longer need.
7. I'm trying to log into / start up / reboot my account, but I can't remember the
password.
8. More and more people are getting / scanning / surfing the web on their cell phones
nowadays.
9. My computer down / freezes / infected when I have too many programs open at the
same time.
10. Never open attachments from people you don't know - they could disease / infect /
lock up your computer with a virus.
11. The boss wants everyone to close / shut down / turn out their computers before
leaving work.
12. You forgot to add / annex / attach the file to your message.
 Lesson 7: Houses and Apartments
I recently spent a month on vacation – but instead of staying in a hotel, I looked for a short-term rental
(a place to live that can be rented for a short period of time). I ended up sharing a two-bedroom
apartment – that’s an apartment with two bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen – with some friends.
It was actually cheaper than renting a studio apartment (an apartment with only one big room) all by
myself.
The apartment was on the top floor of a five-story building (that’s a building with five floors) and it had
a balcony overlooking the ocean (that means you can see the ocean from the balcony). From the roof,
we also had a nice view of the city skyline (this is another expression used when you can see something
from a certain place).
The apartment had recently been remodeled/renovated – meaning it was fixed up and improved – and
was fully furnished, so it already had furniture (beds, tables, etc.) and appliances (refrigerator/fridge, stove,
etc.)
We loved the spacious living room (the room was big), but unfortunately the bedrooms were rather
cramped (small and uncomfortable). It was nice to spend a month there, but by the end of the trip I
started to feel homesick – that’s when you feel sad because you miss your life at home.

I’d really like to have a place of my own so that I’m not throwing away money on rent every month, but
there’s a real shortage of affordable housing (houses/apartments that are reasonably priced) in my city.
Even if I stay away from the upscale neighborhoods (areas where rich people live), I’d still have to take
out a mortgage (borrow money from the bank, in order to buy a house) and it’ll take me more than 30
years to pay it off.
Take out a loan

But still, I’m gonna start saving up for a down payment (an initial payment on a big purchase). Someday,
when I do move into a new place, I’ll be sure to throw a housewarming party (a party to celebrate
living in a new house/apartment).
Quiz
1. Her father paid the affordable / down / studio payment on her apartment.
2. I can't stand living with my parents; I need a place of my independent / own / short-
term.
3. I hope the apartment is decorated / furnished / upscale, because I can't afford to buy
appliances.
4. I was having so much fun during my semester abroad that I didn't feel cramped /
homesick / housewarm at all.
5. It's a ten- level / room / story building with two elevators.
6. My bedroom window overlooks / oversees / overviews the mountains.
7. My parents finished paying off their borrow / budget / mortgage after 25 years.
8. This weekend I'm helping my cousin change / move / turn into his new place.
9. We're going to need a more short-term / spacious/widespread apartment now that
we're going to have a baby.
10. We're regenerating / rejuvenating / remodeling the bathroom, so you'll have to use
the one on the second floor.
Lesson 8: Business
If you don’t want to work for someone else, you can go into business for yourself. You can set up a
company (establish a company) in an industry that interests you – of course, it’s always good to do
market research (investigate the market), to determine if there’s a need for your product or service.

It’s normal for small businesses to operate at a loss (the business is losing money) for the first couple of
years before they start to break even – that’s when the money coming in equals the money going out. If
there’s tough competition and your start-up isn’t able to gain market share (secure a significant number
of customers), then your business runs the risk of going bankrupt (or going under) – losing all its money
and having to shut down. But if the amount of money coming into the company from sales is greater
than the amount spent on expenses, then you are making a profit.

As your business grows, you can hire/take on staff/employees. Another possibility is to make a deal
(make an agreement) with other companies to do business together – in this case, representatives from
both companies will sign a contract (put your name on a contract) that establishes each party’s rights
and responsibilities.

Whenever you’re planning to launch a new product, it’s essential to provide excellent customer service
(help for the customers). Otherwise, your customers will take their business elsewhere – they’ll start
buying from a rival company (a company that is your competitor) instead of from yours.

It’s not easy to run a business (manage a business), but with a combination of luck, skill, and hard work,
your business just might take off (become popular/successful). One way to describe a period of time of
major growth and success is to say that “business is booming.”
Circle the correct words to complete this auto-biography of a successful
entrepreneur:
Growing up, I always knew that my father expected me to gain / make / run the family farming business
someday - but I really wanted to break in / set up / take on my own company. Plus, my dad was terrible
at managing his finances, and his business was constantly on the verge of going bankrupt / dead /
exhausted.
I didn't want to be a conflict / rival / loss to my parents' company, so I opened a small supermarket in a
neighboring town and hired / signed / drew two employees. We made a deal / share / promise with my
father, agreeing that he would be our primary supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables. Despite the tough
competition / contest / opposition in the sector, our little store managed to break equal / even / level
its first year in operation.
Our market contract / profit / research showed that there was a big demand for organic food in the
area, so we began offering primarily organic products and raised our prices. Some of our customers ran
/ took / went their business elsewhere, but others came from miles away due to our reputation for
excellent products and friendly customer attendance / kindness / service.
Last fall, we drove / hired / launched our own line of organic fruit juices, and that's when things really
started to break up / make out / take off. We opened up a café next door to the supermarket, and
business is blasting / booming / exploding.
With the budget / profit / output we're making, we can now invest in expansion and open a branch in
another city. We're even doing / making / taking business internationally - I'm about to sign a contract /
product / staff with an organic coffee supplier from South America.
Lesson 9 City
When my parents retired last year, they traded the towering skyscrapers (very tall buildings) and noise
pollution (excessive noise) of Los Angeles for the peace and quiet of a small coastal city (a city near the
ocean) in southern France. They said they were tired of living in a high-rise building right next to an
industrial zone. Now they live in a cozy little house on the outskirts of the city (on the outer edge of the
city, not in the center).
Life in their new town is quite different from the hectic pace (the fast and chaotic rhythm) of L.A., where
the bustling streets (busy streets filled with people) are strewn with litter (filled with garbage) and you
can count on spending hours in traffic jams (stopped traffic).
Instead, the narrow cobblestone streets of the city center are lined with eighteenth-century buildings
that are now home to quaint shops (charming and old-fashioned shops) and gourmet restaurants
specializing in the local cuisine (the typical food of the region).
The best day to visit is Saturday, when there’s an open-air market (an outdoor market) in the main
square. You can buy souvenirs from the street vendors (people selling things on the street) and have
lunch at one of the trendy cafés (modern, stylish, and popular cafés) in the area. There’s virtually no
street crime here, in contrast to the inner-city areas (older, central, crowded part of a city, usually filled
with poor people and possibly violence) of L.A.
Is there anything that my parents miss about Los Angeles? Well, they do miss the cultural diversity. But
they’re past the age where being in a place with a pulsating nightlife (having many exciting bars and
clubs) is important to them.
Match the two halves of these sentences:
1. I do yoga so that I can
a) jam for three hours on the way home from work.
relax from the hectic
2. I was stuck in a traffic b) of the city; we'll have to take a taxi.
3. I'd really like to live in a c) pollution is until you get out of the city to a more
coastal peaceful place.
4. If you bargain with the
d) litter after the New Year's party.
street
5. That nightclub is on the
e) city so that I could swim in the ocean every day.
outskirts
6. The beach was strewn
f) pace of modern life.
with
7. The shop is located on a
g) vendors, you might be able to get a discount.
bustling
8. This lovely sixteenth
h) street in the city center.
century
9. You don't realize how
i) cuisine in India; it's healthy and delicious!
bad the noise
10. You've got to try the local j) church is one of the biggest tourist attractions
Lesson 10 Countryside
If you’re living in an urban area and looking for a little change of scenery, why not take a weekend trip
to the surrounding countryside? You can walk through the wildlife preserve (special area where
animals are protected), where a winding footpath (a road you can walk on, that has many turns and
changes of direction) will lead you through varied landscapes including dense forests, vast meadows,
and gentle, rolling hills. (7)

TÍNH TỪ 1, TÍNH TỪ 2 DANH TỪ

More adventurous visitors will enjoy exploring the rocky landscape of Yosemite National Park with its
towering cliffs (very tall cliffs) and magnificent waterfalls. You can take a hiking trail that goes up the
steepest face of the tallest mountain in the park (the side of a mountain is called a “face” – and “steep”
means it is very vertical). The trail starts at the foot of the mountain (the base of the mountain) and the
ascent takes about four hours; you can stop to have lunch on the banks of a clear, bubbling mountain
stream.

ASCENT= CLIMB
From the summit, there’s a spectacular panoramic view (meaning you can see in all directions) of the
area. To the east, you can see the jagged, snow-covered peaks of a distant mountain range (a group or
chain of mountains); you can gaze at the lush green countryside (an area with lots of healthy
vegetation) to the south, and when looking west, you can see the slow-moving, shallow river (a river
that is not very deep or fast) that flows lazily towards the ocean.

The coastline is just a three-hour drive from the mountains, with miles of sun-drenched, sandy
beaches. You can stay overnight at a family-run hotel in the picturesque fishing village (beautiful, good
for taking pictures), where every room has an unobstructed view (there are no obstacles blocking the
view) of the sea. The beaches tend to get crowded in the summer, so one option is to take a boat trip
across the bay and explore the secluded beaches (beaches that are hidden) on the island – it’s well
worth the trip (meaning it’s a good use of your time to go there)
1. Don't bother going to the village - it's not merit / worth / value the trip, there's really nothing to
see.
2. From our window, we had an unobstructed look / sight / view of the castle up on the mountain.
3. If you want more privacy, there's a winding / secluded / unobstructed beach an hour's drive
outside the city.
4. Moving from New York City to a small farm in the midwest was quite a dramatic change of face
/ scenery / view.
5. The all-day boat / ship / sailor trip leaves at 7 AM every morning and takes you to 5 different
islands.
6. The hikers tried to find the trail through the dense / heavy / jagged forest.
7. The stream is quite lush / gentle / shallow - the water only comes up to your ankles.
8. This mountain range / span / scenery extends north to Canada.
9. We went bird-watching in the countryside / fauna / wildlife preserve.
10. You can't get there by car; you have to take the footpath / footroad / footstreet.
Lesson 11: Crime
When a person breaks the law (does something illegal), we say they have committed a crime.
Especially horrible crimes – like a savage rape or a brutal murder – can be described as barbaric,
horrible, or vicious crimes.

If someone tries to commit a crime but does not succeed, we use the word attempted – for example, an
attempted murder, attempted kidnapping, or attempted break-in. If someone accuses another person
of a crime, but it is not yet proven, then we use the word alleged – for example, an alleged assault,
alleged harassment, or alleged rape.

After the victim reports the crime to the police, the police will begin to investigate the crime. They’ll
visit the crime scene and gather forensic evidence (collect details like bullets, fingerprints, or blood
samples that can show what happened). If witnesses come forward, the police will interview them to
hear a first-hand account (a story told by a person who saw the event) of what happened. They also
consider possible motives for the crime.

Police can arrest suspects who they believe have committed a crime – but the suspect can prove their
innocence by providing a solid alibi – that means giving a confirmed explanation of where they were at
the time of the crime. If it is never discovered who committed the crime, then the case remains an
unsolved crime. The statistics about number of crimes in a particular area is called the crime rate. And
when there is a big increase in the crime rate, we can call this a crime wave.

There are also a number of collocations we can use to describe criminals. A first-time offender is
someone who has broken the law for the first time, whereas someone who has broken the law in the
past has a criminal record. A criminal who is famous – like a serial killer (a person who has killed
multiple people over time) or a person who is heavily involved in organized crime – can be called a
notorious criminal.

Collocations for specific crimes / criminals:

a cold-blooded killer/murderer – a person who doesn’t have feeling or emotion
a crazed/psychopathic killer – a killer who is insane or mentally unbalanced
domestic violence – when there is violence inside a home, for example, a husband beating his
wife
drug trafficking – the purchase, sale, and transport of illegal drugs
identity theft – when a criminal steals an innocent person’s identifying information and uses it in
an illegal way
sexual harassment – when one person makes undesired sexual advances towards another
person
petty crime – a minor crime
armed robbery – when criminals steal something, while using weapons
Quiz
arrested broke gathered proved reported
attempted committed had provided unsolved
One of my favorite TV shows is about detectives who investigate ____________ crimes. In the last
episode, they were looking into a murder that had happened over ten years ago. The suspect who was
___________ at the time was the victim's ex-boyfriend and ___________ a long criminal record - but he
___________ his innocence with a watertight alibi.
The detectives then began to investigate the person who had found the girl's body and ___________ the
crime. He had never ___________ the law, but a man who matched his description had been accused of
an ____________ kidnapping of another young woman around the same time.
The police called him in for questioning, and the alibi that he _____________ didn't match the one on
record. They then ___________ DNA evidence from the new suspect, and it proved that he had indeed
____________ the crime. It took more than ten years, but justice was finally served!
Lesson 12: War & Peace
When a war begins, we can say that war has broken out or violence has erupted in the region. When
one country officially enters into a state of war, then they have declared war on the enemy country.
Sometimes, one country performs a pre-emptive strike (an early attack) against another – for example,
if it suspects that the other country is stockpiling weapons (creating a collection of weapons) that will
be used for a future attack. The other country may view this as an unprovoked attack (an unfair attack
without a reason), and tensions may rise until the area is on the brink of war – meaning that war is very
probable.
Sending in the military is often called deploying troops. The soldiers may be stationed/posted in a
certain area to protect it, or they may launch an offensive in which they storm/invade enemy territory.
When the soldiers begin firing their guns, we say that they opened fire.
Unfortunately, the horrors of war affect everyone, as innocent people are always caught in the crossfire
(in the middle of the violence without participating in it). Both sides are sure to suffer civilian casualties
(when innocent people are injured or killed) and there will be collateral damage to the countries’
infrastructure. War also results in many refugees displaced by the violence; they may resettle in
another area or flee to another country.
If a particular battle was an important turning point in the war, then it is called a decisive battle.
Sometimes another country intervenes and helps the two sides negotiate a truce/ceasefire (agree to
stop fighting). If successful, this can restore peace – but it may be a fragile/uneasy peace. More work
will still be needed to bring stability to the area and establish a lasting peace. Often, peacekeeping
forces remain in the region to try to avert war (avoid war).
Read this news report from the year 3013 and circle the correct word to complete each collocation.
Special report:
Strains / Tensions are rising between the residents of Earth and Mars, causing some to speculate that
the fragile / weak peace between the two planets may soon come to an end. The latest round of
violence erupted / ruptured when Martian soldiers established / stationed at the Martian embassy on
Earth opened fire / shooting on a group of Earth residents who were protesting outside the consulate.
Although war has not been declared / stated, both planets are ready to react if the other launches an
affront / offensive. There are rumors that Mars has been stockpiling / storming illegal weapons to
defend itself from Earth’s much better-equipped military.
Diplomats from both planets are doing everything possible to bring stability / steadiness to the
situation, but there are concerns that radical extremist groups on Earth may be planning an uneasy /
unprovoked attack for the express purpose of causing a war to break out / take off.
Everyone remembers the hatreds / horrors of the last interplanetary war, in which the decisive /
determined battle resulted in hundreds of thousands of civilian casualties / collateral and a large
number of refugees who fled / deployed to the colony on the Moon.
Even after a ceasefire / crossfire was negotiated, isolated incidents of violence against Martian citizens
brought the two planets to the brink / edge of war several times. The president of Earth has authorized
the recruitment and training of additional peacekeeping forces / truces; however, a forever / lasting
peace continues to be a complicated issue for our Solar System
Lesson 13: Global Problems
In today's lesson, we'll focus on several major global problems.
One critical issue is preserving and protecting the environment. The burning of fossil fuels (oil, coal, and
natural gas) produces greenhouse gases (gases that heat up the atmosphere) that deplete the ozone
layer and result in global warming and climate change (changes in the earth's temperature and weather
patterns).
Some scientists believe that we have already done irreparable damage to the planet, and now we are
suffering the consequences of rising sea levels and increasingly frequent natural disasters such as
earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornados. A number of animal species have gone extinct, and many more
are endangered. To reverse this trend, we must invest in clean energy (energy sources that do not
pollute the environment) with renewable resources (elements like water and air, which can be re-used)
and utilize manufacturing methods that are not harmful to the environment.
There are still many regions of the world where children die of hunger/starvation (die from not having
enough food). Unfortunately, extreme poverty is common in the rural areas of developing countries,
where the population often suffers from food shortages (not enough food) and lack of access to clean
water.
In the cities, homeless people sleep on the streets if there is not enough room in local homeless
shelters. There are also many families on the margins of society (outside the dominant society and
culture) who are living below the poverty line and struggle to make ends meet every month. Although
many governments create welfare programs (programs that give money to poor people) to alleviate
poverty, the widening gap between rich and poor suggests that poverty may never be completely
eradicated.
Poverty and underdevelopment contribute to a host of additional problems as well. For example, many
people die of preventable diseases because they have no access the safe and effective vaccines that
exist. A number of large corporations use child labor in the manufacturing of their products, as poor
families may feel they have no other option for survival. In addition, young women from disadvantaged
backgrounds (poor families and situations) are prime targets for human trafficking and sexual
exploitation.
Read this debate between two politicians and fill in the gaps with the correct words:
alleviating endangered irreparable shelters
clean fossil line shortages
climate harming margins warming
disadvantaged hunger renewable welfare
Jim: If I'm elected, my number one priority will be ___________poverty. A large portion of our country's
population lives below the poverty ___________ , and it's a fact that young people from
___________ backgrounds are more likely to engage in criminal activity. My opponent, on the other
hand, wants to cut funding for the____________ program and leave millions of people without help.
George: I believe it is a mistake to focus on our country alone; we must remember that we are part of a
global community. Opening up more homeless _____________is not a long-term solution to help
those on the __________ of society. However, investing in _____________ energy will enable us to
grow our economy without _________ the environment. This will benefit our country and our world.
Jim: That's a noble goal, but we have more pressing problems. I seriously doubt our citizens who are
dying of_____________care about protecting ____________ species and preventing global
__________. Plus, it's not scientifically proven that humans can even cause____________ damage to
the planet.
George: Don't you see that the two issues are related? Due to ________ change, the rain patterns have
changed and our agricultural sector is not as strong as it once was. This results in food _________ . It's
only going to get worse unless we end our dependence on _________ fuels and start using
___________ resources.